The Historical Society of Woodlawn was a member of the ACW. One result of this association was that the ACW’s records came into the possession of the Historical Society of Woodlawn. As part of the Special Collections Division’s neighborhood history project, the papers of the ACW were processed between July and October 1984. A Scholl Foundation grant provided the necessary funding for this project. The ACW collection was transferred to the Special Collections Division for archival storage and is now available for research.

Access:

No restrictions

Citation:

When quoting material from this collection the preferred citation is: The Associated Clubs of Woodlawn Records [Box #, Folder #], Special Collections, Chicago Public Library.

Historical Note

The Associated Clubs of Woodlawn (ACW) was a community improvement association founded in 1927 and incorporated in 1936. Until its dissolution in February 1970, the ACW served as a clearing house for information of concern to its member clubs and the Woodlawn community as a whole. It also attempted to safeguard and to promote the business, civic, educational and social welfare of Woodlawn.

From 1927 to around the mid-1930s, membership in the ACW was limited to clubs and organizations. This membership practice was gradually modified to allow individuals unaffiliated with either clubs or organizations to apply for membership in the ACW. Despite the liberalization of the ACW’s membership policy, joining the ACW was still a judicious process as late as 1957. Article II, Section 2 of the ACW’s 1957 constitution and by-laws mandate that:

an organization wishing to join the Associated Clubs of Woodlawn, Inc. shall submit an application in writing, stating the name of the organization, the date of its founding, its aims and purposes, and a list of its officers and their addresses.

Furthermore, attendance at ACE meetings was limited to two delegates from each member organization. In every case the delegates had to include the president and one other member of the club or organization.

On February 9, 1970, the ACW, with the written consent of its members, filed corporate dissolution papers with the Illinois Secretary of State. The reason for disbanding mentioned that other community improvement programs, notably the Woodlawn Urban Progress Center, “were willing to step in and undertake activity in behalf of improving the Woodlawn neighborhood.”

Scope and Content

A wide range of activities and interests are represented in the papers of the ACW. The records document the ACW’s activities in preparation for its annual banquet, annual block beautiful contest, clean up - fix up campaign and other special events. The papers also include correspondence files from 1927 to 1971, financial records, membership rosters and minutes of meetings. The records from several of the ACW committees have been preserved and comprise a separate series in the ACW collection.

Series Descriptions

Series 1: Administrative Records, 1934-1972

This series contains records detailing the ACW’s preparation for its annual banquet events and its annual block beautiful contests. Also included in this series are annual reports, certificates of incorporation and dissolution, circular letters to members of the executive committee, the ACW’s constitution and by-laws, extensive correspondence files, detailed financial records, membership materials and minutes of meetings. This series is arranged alphabetically by folder subject title.

Series 2: News clippings and Newsletter, 1931-1966

The ACW’s activities are well documented in both news clippings and its own newsletters. The news clippings are arranged chronologically and the newsletters are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series 3: Committees, 1939-1945

This important series records the work of the ACW’s standing and special committees. ACW committee activity ranged from organizing card parties to obtaining a new drinking water filtration plant for the Southeast side of Chicago. Committees are arranged alphabetically by name.

Non-Manuscript Materials

Photographs from the ACW manuscript collection are listed at the end of the finding guide.